Page 3 of Ready or Not
However, I refuse to let his lying ass ruin the great day I had.
Today was about me performing an amazing set that had the crowd of EverydayPPL screaming for more. It was about doing something I never thought I’d be able to do.
It was aboutmywin.
Not about him moving on with some rebound like he wasn’t on my line a month ago—boohoo crying, asking me to give him another chance so we can rekindle whatever I thought we had.
But for once…Just once… I wanted his hold on me to vanish.
I was ready for something different.
New.
Sighing, I pushed through the crowd of people and finally reached the bar, the cool marble beneath my fingertips offering a slight reprieve from the warmth of the pulsating atmosphere. I leaned against the counter, catching the eye of the brown-skinned bartender who was busy mixing drinks amidst the sea of people shouting out drink orders over the current DJ’s set.
“Can I get a mojito, please?” I said once I caught the attention of one of the bartenders.
“Actually,” a deep male voice cut from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine. In my peripheral vision, a muscular hand extended a card to the bartender. “Make that two. One for the pretty lady, and one for me.”
2 /SOLÈNE
He was tall.
Like I had to look up to see his face, tall.
With a muscular-lean build that I could tell came from a man with a proper gym discipline, his skin was a rich shade of golden oak, accentuated by the large rooftop lights that kissed it. His curly hair, a beautiful shade of ebony, was styled into a small fro that lookedtooperfect. He wore a simple black shirt and dark blue jeans that hugged his frame just right, leaving just enough to the imagination. His neck was adorned with a gold Cuban link and a second gold chain with a small pendant of the Dominican Republic bar coin.
“Thank you,” he took his card back from the bartender and smiled, flashing me a view of diamond bottom bar grills on some of his perfectly straight, white teeth.
Damn, this man was high levels of fine.
Words stuck in my throat, I could only stare back at him while my heartbeat drummed in my ears. My palms felt clammy, my cheeks heated, and my mind went blank once when his eyes caught mine. They were deep, dark brown pools with flecks of gold that I wanted to drown in.
His smile widened, causing a dimple to appear in his left cheek.
“Your drink,” he said, and my ears picked up the deep timbre of his voice… smooth and honeyed, like a sip of the finest whiskey. “It’s behind you.”
Bobbing my head as if it were loose, I reached for the mojito, unable to break eye contact. My hand clumsily hit the rim of the clear plastic cup, causing some of it to spill over my fingers.
“Shit.” I gasped at the sensation of the cold liquid running down my hand. Reaching for a napkin, our hands connected as his reflexes were quick, catching mine in his.
“Let me help with that?—”
“It’s okay—” I shook my hand, wanting to retreat, but he held on, his touch sending my senses into overdrive. His eyes bore into mine, and I melted even more under his gaze.
"I want to." He brought my hand closer to him as he reached for a napkin. With a gentle motion, he dabbed at the spilled drink on my fingers, his touch feather-light and careful. Each contact gave me a flurry of butterflies in my stomach, and I unintentionally held my breath. As he cleaned with unwavering focus, I couldn't help but notice the intricate details of his hands—strong fingers, multiple rings, his nails meticulously trimmed and clean, and the contrast of his tanned skin against my umber hues.
When he finally looked up, our eyes locked once more, and I almost melted.
"Sorry about that," he continued.
I shook my head, attempting not to make a fool out of myself by squeaking. "No, it's... It's fine. T-thank you for helping. And thanks for the drink."
"Anytime." He flashed me another of those heart-stopping smiles before releasing my hand. “I don’t mind paying for a drink for a beautiful woman.”
I smiled nervously, blushing furiously at his compliment. “Well.. Thank you?—”
“The name’s Desiderio, but call me Desi.”
